Ping

Well I guess I can't complain Trillian gets nothing to do in this one.

Much more plot-heavy than the last two in a way that I think really works even if plot is clearly not Adams's strength. I can almost see a "serious" version of this story instead of one that's mostly cricket puns. SO much of this is about cricket. Did I even get it as a teen?

If anything's disappointing me on revisiting this series it's Trillian. She had little to do last time and gets even less here.

I think I unlocked a memory halfway through of not jiving with this one so much as a teen either. Very plotty, meandering between set pieces that mostly lead to dead ends, and also seems to have forgotten that the last book ended with a promise to go to the titular Restaurant. But the plot functions well enough as a Wit Delivery System that it's hard to mind so much.

I like the captain in the bath. He's got life figured out.

Of the 9 chapters maybe 2 actually directly involve code. The rest feel like they're there to fill the word count. But in those 2 chapters you get nuggets of advice like

Write fewer lines of code so your editor opens your project faster.

and

Consider not making your project at all and instead make a pitch video so someone else can make it.

I bought this book because it's inspiring. If this can get published, I have no excuses.

Read this because I enjoyed Dan Ryckert's stuff with Giant Bomb and also have dealt with anxiety issues. It's a decent time if you're the former and want to hear some Dan stories. If you're looking for actual ways to manage anxiety, the best advice he gives is to go read 10% Happier by Dan Harris instead.

Christie doesn't seem to have the same innate talent for thrillers as she had for detective stories at this point. It plays all its cards face-up, which actually works to forefront the real appeal of the story: the relationship between Tommy and Tuppence.

... Unfortunately they spend much of it separated. Oh well. Still, it's a fine little mystery, and I'm interested in the sequels if only for the knowledge that they are written so far apart that T&T age over them.

If I ever received a letter that used the phrase "apophenic as a haruspex" I would call the cops.

Revisited this for the first time since I was a teenager. I was a little worried it wouldn't be the same book I worshipped at time time but it mostly holds up! I have a better appreciation now for the focus on coincidence and probability as a theme and not just a joke delivery system. Also makes the aggressive atheism more interesting, probably.

The only part that lost some shine for me are the characters, and especially Arthur. Why did Ford choose to save him? "Because they're friends." Yes, and why are they friends? I get you need an audience-surrogate everyman but he just seems rather unpleasant. Or maybe he's just extremely English and I can't tell that apart from sarcasm.